Bridging block for wells



1,554,156 B.. H. DAVIS mndms BLOCK FOR WELLS Filed Aug. 24, 1923 I' 1c j' o 0 S. 7 0 i 4 in b @www M2 mm. .a w n rm 0 E z .n V ,2,

3 a o i l Sqn. 15, 1925.

Patented Sept. 15, 19125.

UNITED STATES BERNARD I-I. DAVIS, OF FULLER'ION, ('IALILEORJTJ.l

BBIDGING BLOCK FOR WELLS..

Application filed August 24, 1923. Serial No. 659,147.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BERNARD H. DAVIS, -a citizen of the United States, residing at Fullerton, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bridging Blocks .for Vells, of which the fo-llowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a well drilling apparatus and a 'purpose of my invention is the provision of a device which is adapted to be lowered into a well and automatically expanded for bridging or plugging the well so as to form a secure base upon which the cement is subsequently applied and supported in cementing in a well.

Although I have herein shown and will describe only one form `of bridging block embodying my invention, it is to be understoodpthat various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is'a view showing in side elevation one form of bridging block embodying :my invention in applied position within the well.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the bridging` block in expanded position within the well.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section' on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 illustrating the locking dogs.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which similar reference characters referto similar parts, my invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a circular bodyconsisting of two sections 15 and 16 mo-vably connected at their upper ends by means of a flexible water-proof element'17 which in the p-resent instance is in the form of a disc of rubberized fabric. The confronting sides of the sections 15 are constructed to provide a wedge shaped opening 18 in which a wedge 19 is adapted to work for effecting an expansion of the sections, as will be understood.

As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the wedge 19 is provided with channels 20 in which are. arranged coiled contractile springs 21 secured at the lower ends to a rod 22 extending transversely through the wedge and secured. in the manner shown. The upper ends of the spring extend from the wedge and are secured at their upper ends to wire brackets23 embedded in the upper ends of the sections 15 and 16. These springs serve to normally urge the wedge 19 upwardly between the sections so as to move the sections to expanded position. However, the wedge is normally main-- tained in lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of a rod 24 extending into the wedge, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and having its upper end projecting through and above the disc 17 so as to be engaged by a well drilling tool 25 (Fig. 1) and forced downwardly against the tension of the springs 21, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the upper ends of the channels 2O are in communication with ports 26 formed in the disc 17 and controlled byflap valves 27 formed of the same material as the disc. These flap valves operate to allow the passage of fluid upwardly through the channelsv but prevent the flow of fluid into the upper ends of the channels.

As illustrated to advantage in Figs. 1 and 4, the outer sides of the sections 15 and 16 have flattened portions covered by metallic plates 28 carrying tongues 29 which work in the grooves 30 of metallic locking dogs 31. The flattened portions of the sections taper in depth, vas shown in Fig. 1. so that when the dogs are slid downwardlyV upon the tongues 29 they will be moved laterally from the sections to engage the walls of the drill pipe.

As shown in Fig. 2, the peripheries of the sections 15 and 16 are provided with grooves 32 in which are secured locking arms 33 formed of resilient metal and bent so asto normally occupy expanded position as shown. The grooves 32 are co-extensive in length with the arms so as to completely receive the latter during the lowering of the block into a well casing.

In practice, the bridge'bloclr is adapted to be forced downwardly into the well casing under the weight of the drill tubing with the latter resting upon cross bars 34 secured upon the disc" 17. During the application of the drill tool to the bridge block, the rod 24 is forced downwardly between the sections 15 and 16 thereby moving and maintaining the wedge 19 in low ered position so that the sections are con;

tracted. vWith the sections contracted it will be clear that the bridge block as a unit can be moved downwardly to the well casing to any desired point when by removing the weight of a drill tool and tubing from the rod 24, the springs 21 will function to throw t-he wedge 19 upwardly between the sections and thus move the latter to expanded position. The wedge 19 as well as the sections 15 and 16 are formed of a material such as redwood which when wet will expand sufficiently to maintain the sections in firm Contact with the wall of the well casing, it being understood that both the sections and the wedge are expanded to effect this result. In addition, the dogs 30 are forced outwardly against the wall of the well casing under the tendency of the block to move upwardly, thereby bitinginto the wall of the casing to provide further means for securing the block against movement in the casing. f

lVith the block locked within the well casing, thetcement may now be introduced into the well casing and supported by the block at a predetermined point within the well. Should it be desired vto drill lower or to a point beyond the cement, it will be clear that because ofthe material of which the block is formed, that a drill may readily penetrate the block in effecting this end.

Should it be necessary to employ a bridg ing block at a point below the well casing where the diameter of the well exceeds the diameter of the block, as shown in Fig. 2, the arms 32 automatically move to expanded position in effecting a lock/ing of the block and thereby providing a bat-se upon which the cement may be poured to effect theV cementing of the well at this point.

As shown in Fig. 1, a chain 85 or other flexible connection is connected at one en d to the upper end ofthe rod 24, and at the other end to the drilling tool 25. This chain is of sufficient length to allow an upward movement of the tool 25 al predetermined distancebefore it exerts a pullV upon the rod 24 in effecting a removal of the latter from thewcdge. It is desirable that the rod 24e be removed subsequent to the expansion of the bridging block to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Vhat I claiml is: u

1. A bridging blocl; for wells comprising a body formed of sections, means for attaching the sections together 'at their upper ends, a wedge between said bodies with the apex upwardly,a barto force the wedge down during the insertion of the bridging block, and means for expanding the block when the lowering force is removed.`

2. bridging block for wells comprising a body formed of la plurality of sections movable to occupy expanded or contracted positions, a wedge between said bodies with the apex upwardly, and means contained in the bridging block to positively operate the wedge to expand the sections.

3. A bridging block for wells comprising a plurality of swinging sections, a wedge disposed between said sections and being adapted to expand them, and spring means for urging said wedge between .said sections so as to expand said sections.

i t. A bridging block for wells comprising a plurality of swinging sections, a wedge disposed between said sections and being adapted to expand them, spring means for urging said wedge between said sections so as`to expand said sections, and means for forcing said wedge into such position Within said sections as to permit contraction of the sectionswhile the block is being lowered into a well. Y

5'. A bridging block for wells, comprising a body formed of sections movable to occupy expanded or contracted position, a wed e between the sections for normally urging t e latter to expanded position, and a rod adapted to project above the block and connected to the wedge, said projecting rod being adapted to be engaged by the Adrilling tool for forcing the wedge downwardly so as to normally maintain the sections in contracted position during movement of the block downwardly within the well casing.

6. A bridging block for wells, comprising a body including sections movable to occupy expanded and contracted positions, means for expanding the sections, locking dogs carried by ,the sections, and expansible arms carried by the sections.

7. A bridging block for wells, comprising a body formed of sections movable to occupy expanded or contracted position, a wedge between the sections with the apex upwardly, and spring means contained within the bridging block for normally urging the wedgeto va position in which the sections are expanded.

8. A bridging block for wells, comprising a body formed of sections, a `iexible element movably connecting the upper ends of the sections, ports formed in the'member, valves controlling the ports, a wedge between the sections, channels formed in the wedge and communicating with said ports, springs in the channels for urging the wedge upwardly to expand the sections, and a projection connected to the wedge and extending above the block in the manner and for the purpose described.

9. A bridging block for wells, comprising a body including expansible sections, inclined surfaces formed on the-sections, plates secured to 'said surfaces, tongues carried by the plates, and locking dogs having grooves to slidably receive the tongues.

10. A bridging block for wells comprising a body formed of sections, a flexible element the sections to grip the wail of the casing. movably connecting the upper ends of the 12. A bridging block as claimed in claim sections, a wedge between the sections with 10 having resilient looking arms and the apex upwardly, means to depress the grooves in the sections to receive the look- 5 wedge for inserting the bridging block, and ing arms during the insertion of the bridg- 15 means Contained within the bridging block ing block in a well.

to draw the wedge upwardly and expand In testimony whereof I have signed my the sections. i name to this specification.

ll. A bridging block as claimed in claim 10 10 having locking dogs slidably mounted on Y BERNARD H. DAVIS. 

